Foundations of Naturopathic Nutrition by Fay Paxton – a text book

Fay Paxton (PhD) is an Australian-based naturopath and nutritionist. She has taught nutrition at the Southern School of Natural Therapies and has worked as a consultant for dietary and herbal supplement manufacturers. She is an author of a popular text book, Foundations of Naturopathic Nutrition.1

Overall, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet foods will moderate insulin release and have less effect on fat synthesis. For weight loss, high-protein, low-fat diet may be equally or more effective than a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, and have a more beneficial effects on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These results show that many heart disease risk factors improve with weight loss and that a high-protein, low-fat diet may be preferable for people with elevated blood fats.

A number of similar papers and books from the CSIRO advocate high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets.345678

The Maastricht University High-protein Diet Study

The Maastricht University study9 compared the effects of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet and two versions of a low-fat, high-protein diet on weight loss and maintenance following a very low-calorie restricted diet. Metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in “healthy” obese subjects were examined.

There is no such person as a “healthy” obese subject. There is no mention of medication taken. The chances are high that the subjects are taking some medications. The average BMI is over 32 with a small standard deviation – the majority of the subjects are obese. They are obese at the start of the trial and obese at the end.

Subjects were excluded from the study if:

fasting glucose was > 6 mmol/L or

triglycerides > 2.3 mmol/L or

total cholesterol levels of > 6.5 mmol/L were increased or

diastolic blood pressure exceeded 100 mm Hg or

the subjects were unable to lose at least 5% of their initial body weight during the weight loss period.

So, the study actually excludes the people who should be able to be assisted because their baseline results are too high and excludes those who do not lose “sufficient weight”. The study then has the audacity to conclude that it is a great diet for assisting those with weight loss. How many people were excluded who did not lose sufficient weight?

Forty-eight subjects completed the study that consisted of an energy restriction period of 5–6 weeks followed by a weight maintenance period of 12 weeks. During weight maintenance, the high carbohydrate group supplemented with maltodextrin (a carbohydrate) or protein in the form of casein or whey and consumed a “low-fat diet”.

Note that these components are received as supplements and not as part of a balanced diet.

Diet

Protein
% Energy

Carbohydrate
% Energy

Fat
% Energy

Energy
kcal / day

Energy Restriction
from baseline %

High carbohydate

15.8

62.7

21.2

1868

22%

High Protein - casein

34.5

42.2

24.0

1828

10%

High protein - whey

35.2

42.1

24.3

1812

20%

The low-fat diet (22% by energy) and high carbohydrate diet (63% by energy) are not low-fat diets or high-carbohydrate diets.

The high-protein diet (35% by energy) far exceeds the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of approximately 8%-10% when calculated using the WHO recommendation of 0.84 g/kg body weight. Note that the RDI meets or exceeds the requirements of 98% or the population. The actual requirements are less.

As Russel Henry Chittenden noted over 100 years ago, consuming excess protein produces toxic wastes which is detrimental to health.10

Ketogenic, calorie-restricted diet studies confound the results as they are studying two separate interventions: ketogenic intervention and calorie-restricted intervention. A plant-based, calorie restricted diet shows all the benefits of restricted food intake without the damaging effects of ketogenesis.1112

Even better, a whole-food, plant-based diet without any restrictions on energy has shown to improve indicators for diabetes and heart disease.13141516

A widely cited paper, funded by “an unrestricted grant from the Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine”, a supporter of low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet studies, showed side effects of headaches, constipation, diarrhea, and insomnia for those on a ketogenic diet. Also, the completion rate was not high at only 55%. Let’s face it, who wishes to life a live on a starvation diet with the above side-effects. The extensive range of supplements, required to mitigate the side-effects of the diets, were provided by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., New York.

I have written about the shortcomings of the CSIRO high-fat diet studies at:

The Paleo Diet

On pages 54-55, Paxton extols the virtues of Lorain Cordain’s Paleo Diet. Paxton’s claims that Neanderthals and early humans were largely carnivorous, subsisting mainly on animal flesh and fish, is conjecture.

There is no evidence that our predecessors were largely carnivorous. Orangutans, gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees mainly consume plants. Chimpanzees consume the most animal-sourced foods – mostly coming from termites.

According to Richard Wrangham17, it was the discovery of fire and cooking that transformed humans and our society – not the eating of meat which commenced some 500,000 years previously.

MYA

Species

Events

0.2

Homo sapiens

Modern humans

1.8

Homo erectus

Use of fire and cooking, change to society with man-woman pairs and sharing of food with partner.
Similar appearance to humans, with large change to anatomy. Smaller digestive system, mouth and jaw, loss of hair.
Food more energy dense, softer and easier to digest, less astringent and sweeter. Much less chewing time. Cooking destroys bacteria.

2.3

Homo hablis

Tool makers and meat eaters

3-6

Australopithecus sp

Ape-like Australopithecus.
Lucy was an A. afarensis that lived in Ethopia 3.2 mya.

Dr Katharine Milton is a professor of physical anthropology at the University of California in Berkeley. She received her Ph.D. in anthropology from New York University in 1977. Her field of expertise is the dietary ecology of primates, including human ancestors and modern humans.

According to Professor Milton:

In fact, we do not know much about the range of foods Paleolithic hunter-gatherers consumed in almost any environment.18

Comparative and experimental data shows that modern humans, common chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans show close similarity to most features of gut anatomy as well as patterns of digestive kinetics.19

Professor Milton’s conclusion is:

It is prudent for modern-day humans to remember their long evolutionary heritage as anthropoid primates and heed current recommendations to increase the number and variety of fresh fruit and vegetables in their diets rather than increase their intake of domesticated animal fat and protein20

Saturated Fat Link to Heart Disease Sceptic

On pages 97-98, Paxton notes,

However, new research has raised questions about the heart disease / SFA connection and a recent review concluded that there was no significant evidence for linking dietary SFAs with an increased risk of CHD or CVD.

No reference is for this statement although it is clear it is referring to papers by Siri-Tarino et al.2122 and Chowdhury, R. et al.23

Professor Stewart Truswell, Emeritus Professor of Nutrition from University of Sydney wrote an extensive critique of both of these papers.24

Truswell wrote:

In all, Chowdhury et al omitted or incorrectly reported 25 studies of omega-6 PUFAs and CHD. The protective effect of PUFAs would have been clear if all published studies had been included in their meta-analysis. Changes to established public health guidelines should not be advocated unless all the relevant evidence has been reviewed.

He also stated that:

It seems inappropriate, however, for supplements trials to be pooled with dietary trials in which participants consumed both less saturated fats and more PUFAs.

Professor Walter Willett an epidemiologist Harvard School of Public Health stated:

The controversy should serve as a warning about meta-analyses. These analyses compile the data of individual studies to reach a clear-cut conclusion. It looks like a sweeping summary of all the data, so it gets a lot of attention. … But these days meta-analyses are often done by people who are not familiar with a field, who don’t have the primary data or don’t make the effort to get it.

Note that Siri-Tarino and Krauss received funding from the [US] National Dairy Council.

A similar study by Jakobsen25 in 2009 reported that reducing saturated fat in the diet and replacing it with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was associated with a significantly reduced risk of CHD.

The studies that get the attention in the popular press are those that dismiss the links between saturated fats and heart disease. Any papers that confirm it are ignored.

Paxton ignores the evidence obtained from Seventh-day Adventists studies and the National Geographic Blue Zone studies that have consistently shown that an increase in the consumption of plant-based foods results in an increase in health and longevity. The Japanese and the Okinawans are often described as the longest-lived populations but do not live as long as Californian Adventists.26 Within the Seventh-day Adventist community, as the diet becomes more plant-based, the health indicators improve.

Three eBooks

Low-carbohydrate Mania

Many popular books, magazines, and websites claim that we have been following expert medical advice for the past 40 years and we are unhealthier than ever. They declare that the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease is the greatest scientific deception of our times and that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet is essential for our well-being.

These views have become accepted as the truth. Instead of informing our society about healthy dietary choices, they are causing widespread harm.

Richard explains why these prevailing views are based on myths, fabrications and distortion of the facts.

However, standard medical advice has not been helpful in reducing the rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. This advice often contains guidance such as “everything in moderation” and that we need to be “practical” and “flexible”. Advice which is not very constructive.

Fortunately, the diets that are optimal for our health are also the best for the environment and for the animals we share the earth with.

Vegan Starter Kit from PETA

Obtain a Vegan Start Kit from PETA which has lots of useful tips for everyone – not just those who are considering vegan options.

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Sue C

Richard asked for blood tests before we started the program. My blood pressure was high and had been for some time. It had become border line medication. From the first appointment with Richard I removed meat, dairy and eggs from my diet and followed his advice – whole foods, plant based. I had a doctor’s appointment two days later to address my blood pressure and I was astounded that my blood pressure was normal.
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Sue - Cessnock

I.G. – Hunter Valley

I did Richard’s course in April (2007). Since then I have given up eggs and dairy. I was not eating meat. I continue to make my own wheat bread. I was taking diabetic and arthritic medications.

With some additional help from a local naturopath, I no longer need any medications at all. I am able to do activities such as gardening which was not possible previously.… Read more “I.G. – Hunter Valley”

I.G. - Hunter Valley, NSW

Mary

I was feeling very unwell, difficult to get up in the morning, lethargic and miserable. I had 3 children living at home so it was challenging. After many visits to the doctor, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It took some time. Because I was not overweight, the doctor assumed that I would not have diabetes.… Read more “Mary”

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Leukaemia Foundation - Hunter Valley

Loreto

Richard is wonderfully considerate and helpful and he has been called on many times to assist my Kinesiology Practice. He pays impeccable attention to every detail of the work that he undertakes which he does with enthusiasm and caring. I admire Richard’s skills and abilities and he uses his insight, common sense and intelligence to wisely assist the people with whom he is working to achieve wonderful results.… Read more “Loreto”

Loreto Whitney

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